WHEELS 2.0 HEADS EAST…FAR EAST
By Jesse Beer-Dietz ([email protected])
SPOTLIGHT
Shinobi Ninja (www.myspace.com/shinobininjamusic @shinobininja): Since we last wrote about the Ninjas in October of last year, there have been some major developments. One of the hardest-working bands out there today, they’ve utilized cutting-edge technology to interact with their fans and are rabid social media users. This is the kind of band that will curate a show in a city that doesn’t have the right venue, play a high school during the day and hit a club at night. Peep the highlights below and take note of the machine behind the music (management: Steve Sternschein; legal: Elliot Resnik; booking: the Nue Agency). This is becoming a movement.
* Second place, NMS L.A. Artist on the Verge
* MTVU “Hot Seat” with link to “Rock Hood” video (watch it here).
* Rock the Vote featured artist
* Clear Channel Artist to Watch
* CMJ Top 200
* Multiple spins on Jonesy’s Jukebox, KROQ
* Over 150 tour dates across the nation
* Alternative front page listing on iTunes
* iPhone app: Shinobi Ninja Attacks
* Opened for Rise Against at Summerfest 2011
* 311 Pow Wow Fest
* Warped Tour dates
* Support from P Nut and G Love
* Press hits include The Source, Spin and more
* Writing and producing for others from their Sound Machine Studios, including the Black Sheep reunion album
* Aug. 23 N.Y. showcase at Arlene’s Grocery, 8 p.m.
BAND TO WATCH
Aziatix (http://www.facebook.com/Aziatix): Hailing from Boston, N.Y. and L.A., this R&B group is creating quite the buzz. Last Saturday the band hosted an album release party at the Key Club, which sold out. Check out some of these impressive stats:
* #4 iTunes U.S. R&B chart
* Debut album #10 iTunes U.S. R&B chart
* Follow-up Nocturnal album featured on CNNGO, Ballerstatus, HipHopDX,
* #1 most subscribed to Musician channel on YouTube upon launch
* Hit #1 on Blastro R&B and Pop charts
* 15k+ Facebook likes in less than 100 days of launching in May
* Featured on Ustream.tv's homepage for three days, reaching over 25k unique viewers.
* True international fan base: #3 debut on Taiwan's music charts, #2 debut on Korea's music charts, #1 single on Korea and Taiwan's music charts
* Over 10 official Facebook fan pages encompassing Japan, Chile, Australia, Korea, Singapore, Arab-language fans and more.
* Over 20 international media, press interviews and articles within a month of debut release
* Produced by multi-platinum producer and composer Jae Chong.
BUZZIN’
Looks like the major labels are attending private rehearsals for the hipster, heavy rock band COMA—let the feeding frenzy begin. More to come soon…
WHAT’S HOT
Falling in Reverse (www.fallinginreverse.com): Check out this New band from Las Vegas featuring Ronnie Radke, former lead singer of Escape the Fate. Their debut album, The Drug in Me Is You, came out late last month on Epitaph and was the #1 Rock album on iTunes. The band has over 200k likes on Facebook and will be touring in the U.S. starting in mid-September.
